Water loss due to evaporation is one of the leading causes of lost pool water. Add this to the water you lose from operating fountains, slides and other accessories, as well as cannon ball competitions, and suddenly the pool is missing a ton of water.

And when water leaves the pool, all of the money you spent treating and heating it goes with it.

Not only do you have to refill the pool, you have to add additional chemicals, which aren’t free. Then, in a month or two, you will get your heating bill, and you find that your heating costs are up because you had to heat the additional hose water used to replace the water you lost.

So what can you do to help reduce the amount of water that escapes your pool (without ruining all of the fun)?  

We have some tips.

Make sure there aren’t any leaks

This may seem obvious but many people aren’t aware that their pools are leaking. If you are losing more than a 1/4“ of water on a hot, sunny day, it may be more than just evaporation. Consider what activities occurred over the course of the day, and if you can’t account for the extra water loss, check your pool for leaks.

Invest in a cover

Installing a swimming pool cover can play a big role in eliminating water evaporation, especially if you purchase an automatic pool cover – but that can be expensive. Alternatively, go for a removable cover that can be placed on the pool when it isn’t in use.

Limit the pool accessories

Fountains, slides and waterfalls are an excellent addition to any pool. They are also water bandits. Not only do they expel water from the pool during their operation, they can also add to the pace at which water is evaporated because they increase the surface area of the swimming pool water.

Now, we are not suggesting getting rid of these lovely swimming pool additions. They make your pool feel like an oasis, but you can limit their role in water consumption by turning them off when the pool area is not being used.

Keep pets out…most of the time 

Of course your furry friend wants to join you in the pool when it is warm outside, but every time they get in and out of the pool, they bring a whole lot of water with them. So instead of letting your pet use the pool at their leisure, limit pool time to those times that you are there to enjoy it with them, and let provide them with other ways cool off, when you aren’t home.

Lower the water 

If you have boisterous family members who like to splash and do cannon balls, consider lower the water level. Now don’t go crazy – but keeping the water a couple extra inches from the top will help conserve a little more water during play time.

Put up a barrier 

If you are in a windy area, try installing some sort of barrier such as a fence or privacy screen. Not only will you be able to swim in peace, it will help reduce the amount of wind evaporation.

Lower the temperature 

Warm water evaporates faster than cold water so lowering your temperature a few degrees can reduce some of your water evaporation. Super specific about what temperature the pool is at for a swim? Lower it during the night. This is usually when most of the pool water is evaporated, because of cooler night temperatures.

Have a hard time remembering to turn the heat down at night, and back on in the morning? Check out our innovative pool control technology – the HeaterReader™. It will let you monitor and manage your heater and pump from your phone. You can even set schedules so that the HeaterReader™ does the work (and money saving) for you.

That means less chemical consumption, less evaporation and lower operating costs.

While some of these tips will result in greater overall savings, using any of these ideas should help you cut costs associated with topping up your pool with water.

Have any other advice?

Let us know in the comments! We are always looking for new tips to share with our readers.